Ultrasonic kits and motor systems

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses various embodiments of an ultrasonic kit adapted to be used in the home or for industrial purposes, as well as a variety of ultrasonic motor constructions and ultrasonic converter designs to be used either individually or in combination with each other. The ultrasonic motor is generally of a piezoelectric material having a removable tip or of a design in which the complete motor is contained in a housing, which housing has electrical contact means adapted to be plugged into an adapter which, in turn, is connected to a converter. The motor may be designed such that frequency sensing is provided therein and the feedback signal is utilized by the generator to adjust itself thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic unit adapted to be usedfor home, professional and industrial applications to perform a varietyof functions, as wall as motor designs and power sources availabletherefore.

Heretofore, the use of ultrasonic energy has been directed towards themedical and industrial markets without any major attempt to enter thehome consumer field via products incorporating an ultraonsic motoradapted to be hand held with a complimentary converter for increasingthe normal 60-cycle per second house current to an ultrasonic range, ofsay 40,000 cyles per second, to energize the motor.

Applicants have now discovered that it is possible to produce homeoriented products, by supplying to the consumer a basic kit that permitsthe user a major degree of flexibility in the application of ultrasonicenergy to a number of areas. Accordingly, the present inventioncomprises one or more kits which may be variously designated as:

1. An ultraonsic hobby kit.

2. An ultraonsic multi-duty home service kit.

3. An ultrasonic universal chores kit.

4. An ultrasonic home workshop and the like.

5. An ultrasonic cosmetic kit which may include a razor, water pick,toothbrush, or prophylaxis unit.

An essential aspect of the ultrasonic motor technology today requires anelectrical converter to increase the frequency of the normal housecurrent to an ultrasonic rate, which rate for purposes of this inventionis defined within the range of approximately 5,000 to 1,000,000 cyclesper second. Accordingly, the present invention in each of its variousforms provides a converter, either adapted to be plugged directly intoan electrical outlet through an electrical cord or connected to abattery. The converter is electrically connected to the motor which isdesigned to convert the electrical energy into mechanical vibrations atan ultrasonic rate. The present invention provides various convertersadapted to be used in connection with variously housing motors adaptablefor a number of applications.

In connection with the home consumer market particularly, the cost todate of the ultrasonic motor-converter systems has hindered theintroduction of ultrasonics into the consumer field in any sizeablescale. This invention provides a way for producing the ultrasonic systemwith the versatility necessary for practical application thereof on aneconomical basis.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a variety ofultrasonic kits adaptable for consumer and commerical use both in thehome and industry.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a series ofaccessories for use with an ultrasonic motor adaptable to beinterchangeable so as to produce a series of effects therewith.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a kit including anumber of items that may be assembled with ultrasonic energy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novelultrasonic motor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novelultrasonic motor converter system for multi-purpose use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novelultrasonic converter.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, includesa home consumer unit adapted for use for cosmetic purposes, having aplurality of interchangeable accessories to permit the user to carry outvarious functions with the ability of quick interchangeability andreplacement so that various members of the household may have access tothe ultrasonic energy imparted to the accessory with a single powersource or converter being employed.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the ultrasonicinstrumentation is contained within a wall unit such that the accessorymay be manually withdrawn therefrom during usage and then returned tothe wall cabinet when the user has completed such usage.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an ultrasonic kit isprovided to permit the user to use ultrasonic energy for various hobbypurposes; and the kit includes the ultrasonic motor, converter, and aseries of interchangeable acceessory elements that function in variousmanners to carry out the hobbycraft functions. The word "hobbycraft" isused to include various household functions, and is not limited tohobbies per se. The kit further may include various plastic, wood, ormetallic parts of various shapes and configurations to be assembled by,or used with, the ultrasonic instrument.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a novel ultrasonicmotor is disclosed, which provides for the first time aninterchangeability within the ultrasonic field of an entire motor thatmay be plugged or otherwise quickly coupled to a power source such thatquick interchangeability is available for various uses.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a novel converterdesign is disclosed that is battery powered so as to be able to drive anultrasonic motor for a variety of functions.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a novelmotor-converter system is disclosed in which driving crystals areutilized for powering the motor and a sensing crystal is utilized formonitoring the frequency of the motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself, and themanner in which it may be made and used, may be better understood byreferring to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like referencenumerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1, is a perspective view of an ultrasonic hygienic kit in use;

FIG. 2, is a perspective view of the ultrasonic kit as adapted for use;

FIG. 3, is a side elevational view of ultrasonic instrument means foruse in the present invention;

FIG. 4, is a side elevational view in cross-section of the instrumentmeans in assembled relationship taken along a medial plane;

FIG. 5, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated bythe line 5--5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated bythe line 6--6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7, is a perspective view of an ultrasonic hygienic kit in use;

FIG. 8, is a side elevational view in section of the kit illustrated inFIG. 7;

FIG. 9, is a side elevational view of ultrasonic instrument means foruse in the present invention;

FIG. 10, is a side elevational view in cross-secion of the instrumentmeans in assembled relationship taken along a medial plane;

FIG. 11, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated bythe line 11--11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated bythe line 12--12 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated bythe line 13--13 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14, is a side elevational view of ultrasonic instrument means foruse in present invention;

FIG. 15, is a side elevational view in cross-section of the instrumentmeans is assembled relationship taken along a medial plane;

FIG. 16, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated bythe line 16--16 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated bythe line 17--17 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated bythe line 18--18 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 19, is a form of kit that is primarily intended for the hobbyist;

FIG. 20, illustrates the instrument means of the kit used for assemblyof a plastic model;

FIG. 21, illustrates an ultrasonic system having a converter adapted tobe plugged into a wall outlet;

FIG. 22, illustrates the system for use in another hobbycraft;

FIG. 23, illustrates another form of hobby kit;

FIG. 24, illustrates the instrument means of the kit in FIG. 23 inassembled relation;

FIG. 25, is an enlarged view partially in section, of a removableelement for use in assembly of component parts;

FIG. 26, is a view similar to FIG. 25 showing the completed assemblyoperation;

FIG. 27, is a view similar to FIG. 25 of a novel fastener beingassembled;

FIG. 28, is a view illustrating the removal of the head formed on thefastener; and

FIGS. 29-32 illustrate various electrical schematics of converters thatcan be used to drive the various ultrasonic motors described herein.

PREFERRED EMBODMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof,we have disclosed an ultrasonic system or kit generally indicated by thereference numeral 10, for use by one or more users 11, seen to include acabinet 12, on table 19, which contains therein an ultrasonic converter15, as well as a tray or reservoir 16 forming a reservoir on the top 13thereof, and containing a supply of liquid 18, which, in a conventionalmanner, is pumped from the reservoir 16 by pumping means 20 containedwithin the cabinet 12 and connected to the tray 16 to permit the flow ofliquid 18 through the pumping means 20. Ultrasonic instrument means 22is coupled to the converter means 15 and pumping means 20 by cable means24 which contains a current supply line and a liquid supply line. Theultrasonic instrument 22 is comprised of accessory or implement means25, that may have various shapes and configurations, and adapted to beremovably secured to adapter or coupling means 26. The cabinet 12contains power control means in the form of a switch 28 having an "On"and "Off" position and a variable switch 30 to regulate the power ofconverter 15. A liquid means regulator includes a switch 32 thatcontains a dial to vary the rate of the pump 20, which pumps the fluidfrom the reservoir 16 through the cable 24 in a manner which is wellknown in the art.

The cabinet 12 is seen to include support means 35 which may extend fromthe side wall thereof in the form of bent arms 36 to support the adapter26 when not in use. The upper surface 13 of the cabinet 12 includesretaining means in the form of a plurality of recesses 33 adapted toreceive therein in vertical relationship a plurality of accessories 25,each adapted to be interchangeable with and readily connected to theadapter 26 as hereinafter more fully described with respect to FIGS. 3-6and FIGS. 9-18. The actual accessory 25 may consist of an ultrasonictoothbrush 38, an ultrasonic water-pick 40, or an ultrasonic prophylaxisunit 41; said water-pick, toothbrush and prophylaxis unit may be made inaccordance with U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,110 issued Dec. 15, 1970, by LewisBalamuth and entitled, "Methods and Apparatus for Maintaining Tooth andGingival Structures with Ultrasonic Energy," and which patent isassigned to the assignee of the present invention. Another accessory inthe form of and ultrasonic razor 42 may also be interchangeable with theadapter 26 and said razor may be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat.application Ser. No. 872,927, filed Oct. 31, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No.3,610,080, issued Oct. 5, 1971, by Arthur Kuris and entitled,"Ultrasonic Method and Apparatus for Shaving," and assigned to theassignee of the present invention. Another accessory 25 may be in theform of a container 43 adapted to receive therein a fluid whichaccessory may be used by the user by inserting their finger therein fordoing their nails, to perform a cleansing or other operation thereon.Another accessory 44 may be in the form of a polishing head forpolishing and performing other beauty care treatments.

The ultrasonic kit 10, as seen with respect to FIG. 1, and for which theuser 11 is using an ultrasonic toothbrush in the mirror 17 on wall 14,permits each family to have their own accessory 25 available to themsuch that it may be readily interchangeable and connected to the adapter26 so that when the connection is made electrical energy is transmittedto the working end of the accessory which, as indicated above, may takevarious shapes and forms and there is disclosed herein are only asampling of those that might be used in accordance with the presentinvention. The kit illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is seen to include anelectrical plug 46 which is in a conventional manner plugged into a walloutlet and connected by cable 45 to the generator or converter 15 thatconverts the normal 60-cycle house current to an ultrasonic rate, whichas herein designed, is to include the frequency range of 5,000 cycles to1,000,000 cycles per second. Obviously, the converter 15 may be batterypowered as hereinafter described, or the type in which it is batterypowered, as hereinafter described, or the type in which it is batterypowered for traveling but having a feature in which case a plug wouldstill be utilized.

Accordingly, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a new and novel ultrasonicinstrumentation that affords the user, for the first time, to have avariety of ultrasonic implements 25 available to him in a compactmanner, to be useable with minimum effort by an entire family in thehome. In use, the user 11 merely selects the particular accessory 25desired for a particular need and then sets out to manually insert theaccessory 25 into the adapter 26 in a simple easy manner. The power maythen be energized by the "On" and "Off" switch 28 and the amount ofliquid 18 from the reservoir 16, if any is desired, may then be selectedby the variable switch 32, and the power level selected by variablecontrol switch 30. When the user has completed the use of the accessory25, he or she may then remove the accessory 25 from the adapter 26,replacing it in the selected retaining means 33 provided therefor andreturn the adapter to its support means 35.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate one form of accessory 25, and adapter 26,construction that may be utilized in accordance with the embodiments ofthe invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The accessory 25 includes anultrasonic motor or transducer means 50 contained in a tubular housing52 having a front end 54 and a rear end 56 with the outer wall 58 of thehousing 52 having any desired contoured shape or configuration tofacilitate it being handled by the user, and a tapered section 59terminating at the front end 54 of the housing 52 with a chamber orcavity means 60 extending from the rear end 56 of the housing 52 andconnected to an axial opening 62 which in turn terminates at the frontend 54.

As seen with respect to FIG. 4, the ultrasonic motor 50 is containedwithin the housing cavity 60 and the hand piece housing 52 may be ofplastic or any other suitable material.

The ultrasonic motor 50 includes a transmission member 65 terminating ata working output end or tip 66 at one end thereof and having a rearsurface or face 68 at its opposite end. The transmission member 65 maybe designed in the form of an acoustical impedance transformer so thatthere is an increase in the amplitude of mechanical vibration from itsrear face 68 to its front tip 66. The actual variations of crosssectional area to obtain the amplitude magnification is well known inthe art. The transmission member 65 may be made of a metallic or plasticmaterial depending upon its desired use, for example, if the implementas shown in FIG. 4 has a water feed associated therewith then the unitmay be used for dentistry in the form of a dental prophylaxis unit bythe dentist or in turn may be of a home consumer design to be used bythe user in the home for maintaining tooth and gingival surfaces free ofdeposits normally contained on the teeth of the user. Essentially, themotor construction, as hereinafter described, for professional and homeuse, may be of similar design except that the relative power for a homeconsumer unit would be less than that of a prefessional unit which isused by the dentist since in the home the user is in a sense doing overa 6-month period what the dentist might be doing at one sitting in thedentist's office. Accordingly, the tip 66 may be of a plastic ormetallic material depending upon the use thereof and the magnitude ofultrasonic mechanical vibrations to be imparted thereto.

The transmission member has a circular rear section 70 and front section75, with an internally threaded bore 71 extending from its rear face 68and terminating in a seat 72 adapted to contain therein sealing means asin the form of an o-ring 74 as hereinafter explained. Communicating withthe bore 71 is a longitudinally extending passageway 76 that extends tothe front tip 66 of the transmission 65 through the front section 75,which is illustrated to have a curved or contoured portion 78 to permitready access within the oral cavity. Obviously, the shape, contour andcross sectional area of the passageway 76 may be designed to obtainvarious spray patterns or flow rates and further, the tip 66 may bedesigned so as to obtain flexural, lateral, torsional, elliptical,linear or longitudinal motion, by proper control of the shape of thefront section 75 of the transmission member which has the bent tipportion 78 formed therewith.

The transmission member 65 has a contoured radius 79 connecting togetherthe front section 75 and the rear section 70 of the transmission member65, which sections may be both of circular cross sectional area suchthat the front section 75 extends out beyond the front end 54 of thehousing 52 a sufficient distance and through the opening 62 providedtherefor. The transmission member 65 may contain an annular depression80 for motor mounting means, illustrated to be in the form of an o-ring81, but it may take other forms and shapes as desired. Extending fromthe rear face 68 of the transmission member 65 is a support member orshaft 82 having a threaded portion 84 which engages the threaded portion71 of the transmission member 65 and an axially extending passageway oropening 83. The rear end of the support member 82 also has a threadedportion 86 which receives locking means in the form of a nut 85 threadedthereon and adapted to sandwich therebetween under a selectedcompressive static load a pair of piezoelectric crystals 88 and 89 thatmay be of a lead zirconate or lead titanate ceramic crystal material,formed so as to be capable of ultrasonic vibrational acitivity in itslongitudinal direction when activated by high frequency electricalimpulses delivered to it as will be described. The crystals have anexternal diameter 92 and 93 respectively, which is smaller than theinternal diameter of the chamber 60 such that sufficient clearancetherebetween is obtained. The internal diameters 94 and 95 of therespective crystals 88 and 89 have a diameter which permits aninsulating tubular sleeve 96 to be positioned in surroundingrelationship over the support member 82, and extends the length from thefront face 98 of crystal 88 to the rear face 101 of the crystal 89. Thesleeve 96 is made preferably from an insulative material such as plasticso as to isolate the crystals from the electrode 90 that extends betweenthe rear face 99 of crystal 88 and the front face .[.of crystals.]. 100of crystal 89.

To permit wiring of the motor, wire lead 104 extends through thepassageway 83 with the support member 82 having a longitudinallyextending opening 102 through the support member wall and through anopening 105 in the insulator sleeve 96 and terminating in a pocket 106within the disc shaped electrode 90. The wire 104 is soldered orotherwise attached to the electrode 90 for electrical purposes. The rearmember 91 fits in telescopic relationship to the support member 82 andhas an external diameter 108 which is less than the internal diameter ofthe chamber 60.

The mounting means for the motor 50 in the housing means 52 consists ofspaced apart-o-rings 81 and 110 such that the vibrational energy of themotor when energized, remains substantially isolated therein without theenergy being transmitted to the housing 52. A peripheral o-ring seat 109is provided for o-ring 110 in the housing 52.

Locking means in the form of a nut 85 is secured to the rear threadedportion 86 on shat 82 and is tightened to the point where an axialcompressive force is sufficient to compress the crystal 88, electrode90, crystal 89, and rear section 91 with a predetermined amount oftorque. Depending upon the size of the crystals and power of the motor,an epoxy material may be used to bond the parts and crystals togetherand form the locking means.

As part of the electrical connecting means, a ground lead or conductor112 is connected to a lug 114, a portion of which extends beneath thenut 85, such that the power leads 104 and 112 are in turn connected to apower source as hereinafter explained.

The ultrasonic motor 50 although shown as piezoelectric may be one of avariety of electromechanical types, such as electrodynamic,piezoelectric or magnetostrictive, and designed for effecting ultrasonicvibrations through hand directed tools of suitable configuration, orlarger ones, which are readily replaceable or inter-changeable withother work performing tools or accessories such as for use asacoustically vibrated material treating devices. The motor 50 hascomponents rigidly joined, in end-to-end relationship to form a unit orassembly which is removably supported in a housing containing electricalcoupling means to the transducer and receiving alternating current.

The ultrasonic motor 50 is longitudinally dimensioned so as to havelengths which are generally whole multiples of half-wavelengths of thecompressional waves established therein at the frequency of the combinedlongitudinal length of the components so that longitudinal loops orother components of motion occur at the end 66 of the output surface ofthe transmission member 65. Thus, the optimum amplitude of longitudinalvibration and hyper-accelerations of transmission or coupling member 65is achieved, and such amplitude is determined by the relationship of themasses of the rear section 70 and front section 75 which may be madeeffective to either magnify or reduce the amplitude of the vibrationsreceived from the transducer crystals. The front section 75 may bepermanently attached to the rear section 70, or the front section 75, orpart thereof, may be provided with a threaded stud adapted to be screwedinto a tapped hole in the end of the transmission member 65 foreffecting rigid connection of a removable element thereto.

The rear end 56 of the casing of housing 52 has an electric connector orplug 115 connected thereto by means of a bushing 116, which extendsbeyond the rear end of the housing 52 and may be secured thereto in anyconventional manner. The connector 115 is seated at one end of thebushing 116 and adapted to mate with an opposite type connector 120;i.e., female, such that electrical energy may be transmitted to themotor 50.

The adapter 26 is designed to match the rear end of the housing 52 andincludes a cavity 121 having a front end 122 which abuts the rear end 56with a wall portion 123 having an external diameter 124 that may be ofthe same outside diameter as the housing 52. The female connector 120 iscontained within a counterbore 125 having electrical contacts 126 and128 and may be seated therein by a press fit such that the electricalterminals or prongs 129 and 130 and water feed 131 of the connector 115,as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, are adapted to mate with the female receptacle120 having receiving prongs or contacts 133, 134 and 138. The terminals129, 130 and 131 extend from the front of the connector 115 and the twopower leads 104 and 112 are connected to 129 and 130 respectively and,in turn, to prongs 133 and 134 which connect to contacts 126 and 128respectively. The sleeve 116 extends in telescopic relation to theadapter 26 and by a frictional fit extends within a seat 132 on thefront of adapter housing 26. The present embodiment of the ultrasonicmotor system is adapted to have a fluid pass therethrough such that theinstrument may be used as a water pick or dental prophylaxis unit andaccordingly, fluid supply means 135 is provided in the form of aflexible tube or conduit 136 that extends through the sleeve 116 and iscoupled to the receptacle 115 which in turn has its prong 131 that mateswith prong 134 in receptacle 120 in a conventional manner. The conduit136 extends from the receptacle 115 and through the axial bore 83 in theshaft 82 to be in axial alignment with the passageway 76 extending fromthe bottom surface or seat 72 to the tip 66 of the transmission member65. The conduit 136 may abut the bottom of the seat 72 and be retainedin place by sealing means in the form of an o-ring 137 to afford astructurally fluid tight seal. Other means of coupling the front to thefluid connecting member 136 may be utilized in order to have acontinuous flow of fluid, such as water, from a desired source, whichmay be from a tap or a mechanical pump as discussed with respect toFIGS. 1 and 2, for maintaining a stream of fluid on a continuous orintermittent basis. The vibratory mechanical energy generated in themotor is in turn transmitted to the fluid through the front member asdiscussed in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,110.

The contacts 126 and 128 have wires 140 and 141 connected thereto andliquid conduit 142 connects to terminal 134, with all being containedwithin a flexible sheath 145 and together forming cable 24. A stopmember 146 firmly grips the sheath 145 and members therein.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an ultrasonic kit 10a of a similar nature tothat illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the entire kit 10a issituated within a cabinet 12a that is built within the wall 14a of thehome of the user 11a and access to the accessories 25a as well as thepower On-Off switch 28a, power regulation 30a and fluid regulator switch32a are obtained by opening the door 150a to the cabinet 12a. As seen inparticular with respect to FIG. 8, the cabinet 12a contains a lowershelf 13a or wall having a plurality of openings 33a and each openingadapted to receive therein an accessory 25a which may be of the typediscussed above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. The upper portion of thecabinet 12a contains an upper wall 151a and a front panel 152a throughwhich the knob control switches 28a, 30a and 32a extend with theconverter 15a positioned on the upper wall 151a and connected to thenormal house current via cable 45a and plug 46a. An electrical powercable 154a extends from the converter 15a through the upper wall 151aand through a middle wall 155a, which latter wall supports the reservoir16a which, as seen in FIG. 3 may be readily removed for replenishing thesupply of liquid therein. The bottom of the reservoir 16a is coupled toa fitting 156a in which the power cable 154a is connected to, and fluidsupply and power supply merge into cable 24a, and are then wound on aspring loaded or other commercially type available take-up or retractingmeans in the form of a reel 160a such that the adapter 26a from itsretracted position as seen in FIG. 8 is retained in place by supportingmeans 35 with support arms or clips 36a, mounted on panal 161a to itsextended position as seen in FIG. 7 so that it is ready for use by theuser 11a. The manner of operation is similar to that described in FIGS.1 and 2, and by supplying a spring loaded take-up reel 160a, theproblems of a loose cable 24a are eliminated.

FIGS. 9-13 illustrate another form of accessory 25b and adapter 26b thatmay be utilized in accordance with the embodiments of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and 7 and 8, and having an added featureof a removable element 165b. The accessory 25b includes an ultrasonicmotor or transducer means 50b contained in a tubular housing 52b havinga front end 54b and a rear end 56b with the outer wall 58b of thehousing 52b having any desired contoured shape or configuration tofacilitate it being handled by the user, and a tapered section 59bterminating at the front end 54b of the housing 52b with a chamber orcavity means 60b extending from the rear end 56b of the housing 52b andconnected to an axial opening 62b which in turn terminates at the frontend 54b.

As seen with respect to FIG. 10, the ultrasonic motor 50b in containedwithin the housing cavity 60b and the hand piece housing 52b may be ofplastic or any other suitable material. The ultrasonic motor 50bincludes a transmission member 65b terminating at a working output endor tip 66b at one end thereof and having a rear surface or face 68b atits opposite end. The transmission member 65b may be designed in theform of an acoustical impedance transformer so that there is an increasein the amplitude of mechanical vibration from its rear face 68b to itsfront tip 66b. The actual variations of cross sectional area to obtainthe amplitude magnification is well known in the art. The transmissionmember 65b may be of a metallic or plastic material depending upon itsdesired use with the removable element 165b having a water feed throughas shown in FIG. 4; then the unit may be used for dentistry in the formof a dental prophylaxis unit by the dentist or in turn may be of a homeconsumer design to be used by the user in the home for maintaining toothand gingival surfaces free of deposits normally contained on the teethof the user. Essentially, the motor construction, as hereinafterdescribed, for professional and home use, may be of similar designexcept that the relative poser for a home consumer unit would be lessthan that of a professional unit which is used by the dentist, since inthe home the user is in a sense doing over a 6-month period what thedentist might be doing at one sitting in the dentist's office.Accordingly, the removable element 165b may be of a plastic or metallicmaterial depending upon the use thereof and the magnitude of ultrasonicmechanical vibrations to be imparted thereto.

The transmission member 65b has a contoured radius 79b connectingtogether the front section 75b and the rear section 70b of thetransmission member 65b, which sections may be both of circular crosssectional area such that the front section 75b extends out beyond thefront end 54b of the housing 52b a sufficient distance and through theopening 62b provided therefor. The transmission member 65b may containan annular depression 80b and casing 52b with an annular depression166b, for motor mounting means, illustrated to be in the form of ano-ring 81, positioned in each of said depressions. Extending from therear face 68b of the transmission member 65b is a support member orshaft 82b that may be integrally formed therwith, and having an axiallyextending passageway or opening 83b. The rear end of the support member82b has a threaded portion 86b which receives locking means in the formof a nut 85b threaded thereon and adapted to sandwich therebetween undera selected compressive static load a pair of driving piezoelectriccrystals 88b and 89b and a third crystal 168b forming part of thesensing means, that may be of a lead zirconator or lead titanate ceramiccrystal material, formed so as to be either capable of ultrasonicvibrational activity in its longitudinal direction when activated byhigh frequency electrical impulses delivered to it, or detecting thefrequency of the motor as will be described. The driving crystals havean external diameter 92b and 93b respectively, which is smaller than theinternal diameter of the chamber 60b such that sufficient clearancetherebetween is obtained. The internal diameters 94b and 95b of therespective crystals 88b and 89b have a diameter which permits aninsulating tubular sleeve 96b to be positioned in surroundingrelationship over the support member 82b, and extends the length fromthe front face 98b of crystal 88b to at least the rear face 101b of thecrystal 89b. The sleeve 96b is made preferably from an insulativematerial such as plastic so as to isolate the crystals from theelectrode 90b that extends between the rear face 99b of crystal 88b andthe front face of crystal 100b of crystal 89b.

To permit wiring of the motor, wire lead 104b extends through thepassageway 83b with the support member 82b having a longitudinallyextending opening 102b through the support member wall and through anopening 105b in the insulator sleeve 96b and terminating in a pocket106b within the disc shaped electrode 90b. The wire 104b is soldered orotherwise attached to the electrode 90b for electrical purposes. Therear member 91b fits in telescopic relationship to the support member82b and has an external diameter 108b which is less than the internaldiameter of the chamber 60b.

A peripheral o-ring seat 109b is provided on the support member 82b andan o-ring seat 169b is provided in the cavity 80b for o-ring 110b suchthat the mounting means for the motor 50b in the housing means 52bconsists of spaced apart o-rings 81b and 110b such that the vibrationalenergy of the motor when energized, remains substantially isolatedtherein without the energy being transmitted to the housing 52b. Byproviding o-ring seats in the housing 52b as well as on the motor 50baxial movement of the motor relative to the housing is substantiallyprevented when a force is applied to the removable element 165b.

The motor 50b illustrated in FIG. 10 has frequency sensing means in theform of a third crystal 168b which abuts the rear member 91b on one sidethereof and an electrode 170b on its opposite side with an insulatingwasher 172b between the electrode 170b and locking nut 35b. A tubularsleeve 174b of insulating material extends on the support member 82b atleast the axial length of the crystal 168b, electrode 170b and washer172b. A wire lead 171b is connected within a pocket 173b and in turn isconnected to the connector 115b.

The nut 85b forming the locking means is secured to the rear threadedportion 86b on shaft 82b and is tightened to the point where an axialcompressive force is sufficient to compress the crystal 88b electrode90b, crystal 89b, rear section 91b, crystal 168b and electrode 170b,with a predetermined amount of torque.

As part of the electrical connecting means, a ground lead or conductor112b is connected to a lug 114b, a portion of which extends beneath thehead of a screw 175b that is screwed into nut 85b, such that the powerleads 104b and 112b are in turn connected to a power source ashereinafter explained.

The accessory 25b in this form of the invention is seen to includeelement means 165b that is designed to be removable from the frontsection 75b of the motor 50b. Various forms of the attachment may beemployed so that the user may conveniently and quickly replace theelement 165b with minimal effort. One such form is shown in FIG. 10 inwhich the element means 165b includes a neck portion 177b terminating ina head portion 178b, with the neck portion illustrated in the form of acone. The neck portion may take various forms and shapes to permit theuser to perform various jobs with them--such as a knife for cuttingmaterials, a bent tip for various modes of vibration and permittingaccess to various areas, etc. The neck portion 117b merges with a bodyportion 179b, illustrated in the form of a hexagon nut to permit it tobe gripped for tightening and loosening it relative to the motor 50b.The fastening portion 180b may be integrally formed with the bodyportion 179b and may be in the form of threads to threadably engage atapped portion in the front section 75b.

To assist in tightening and loosening the removable element 165b,securing means 181b may be employed in the form of a pair of flats orslots 182b to be gripped by a wrench. In this manner one wrench isapplied at body portion 179b and another at the slots 182b and turnedrelative to each other until firmly secured in place.

To aid in assembly of the motor 50b positioning means 185b may beprovided as seen in FIGS. 10 and 11 to prevent angular rotation, but notlongitudinal displacement, of the rear member 91b relative to thesupport member 82b when the nut 85b is tightened. The positioning means185b includes a transverse opening 186b in the support member 82bdimensioned to accept the lip 187b, of a screw 188b which is threadablyengaged in the rear member 91b, with a minimum of clearance. In thismanner, the rear member 91b moves in the longitudinal direction tocompress the crystals 88b and 89b when the nut 85b is rotated. At thecompletion of the assembly of the motor 50b, the screw 188b may beremoved or held permanently in place by an epoxy (not shown).

The rear end 56b of the casing or housing 52b has an electric connectoror plug 115b connected thereto by means of a bushing 116b, which extendsbeyond the rear end of the housing 52b and may be secured thereto in anyconventional manner. The connector 115b is seated at one end of thebushing 116b and adapted to mate with an opposite type connector 120b;i.e., female, such that electrical energy may be transmitted to themotor 50b.

The adapter 26b is designed to match the rear end of the housing 52b andincludes a cavity 121b having a front end 122b which abuts the rear end56b with a wall portion 123b having an external diameter 124b that maybe of the same outside diameter as the housing 52b. The female connector120b is contained within a counterbore 125b having electrical contacts126b and 128b and may be seated therein by a press fit such that theelectrical terminals or prongs 129b, 130b, and 189b of the connector115b, as seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, are adapted to mate with the femalereceptacle 120b having received prongs or contacts 133b, 190b, and 138b.The terminals 129b, 130b, and 189b extend from the front of theconnector 115b and the three power leads 104b, 112b, and 171b areconnected to 129b, 130b, and 189b respectively and, in turn, to prongs133b, 134b, and 189b, which connect to contacts 126b, 128b, and 191brespectively, as seen in FIG. 10. The sleeve 116b extends in telescopicrelation to the adapter 26b and by a frictional fit extends within aseat 132b on the front of adapter housing 26b. The present embodiment ofthe ultrasonic motor system may be adapted to have a fluid passtherethrough such that the instrument may be used as a water pick ordental prophylaxis unit and accordingly, may be of the design asillustrated in FIGS. 3-6.

The contacts 126b, 128b and 191b have wires 140b, 141b and 192bconnected thereto, with all being contained within a flexible sheath145b and together forming cable 24b. A stop member 146 firmly grips thesheath 145b and members therein.

The motor 50b may have the current thereto controlled from either theconvertor as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, or switching means 195b maybe provided on the instrument means on either the accessory 25b or onthe adapter 26b as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The switching means195b may include a switch 196b contained within the adapter housing 26bwith a push button 197b extending through the wall 123b and externallyof the adapter. Electrical leads 198b and 199b extend from the switch196b and are connected to the converter. The switch may be one of avariety of types commercially available.

FIGS. 14-18 illustrate another form of accessory 25c and adapter 26cthat may be utilized in accordance with the embodiments of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; and 7 and 8, and having an added featureof the electrical coupling means 200c contained within the housing 52cso that the motor 50c is coupled to electrical contacts without anywires extending from the motor 50c. The accessory 25c includes anultrasonic motor or transducer means 50c contained in a tubular housing52c having a front end 54c and a rear end 56c with the outer wall 58c ofthe housing 52c having any desired contoured shape or configuration tofacilitate it being handled by the user, and a tapered section 59cterminating at the front end 54c of the housing 52c with a chamber orcavity means 60c extending from the rear end 56c of the housing 52c andconnected to an axial opening 62c which in turn terminates at the frontend 54c.

The transmission member 65c has a contoured radius 79c connectingtogether the front section 75c and the rear section 70c of thetransmission member 65c, which sections may be both of circular crosssectional area such that the front section 75c extends out beyond thefront end 54c of the housing 52c a sufficient distance and through theopening 62c provided therefor. Extending from the rear face 68c of thetransmission member 65c is a support member or shaft 82c that may beintegrally formed therewith. The rear end of the support member 82c hasa threaded portion 86c which receives locking means in the form of a nut85c threaded thereon and adapted to sandwich therebetween under aselected compressive static load a pair of driving piezoelectriccrystals 88c and 89c, and a third crystal 168c forming part of thesensing means, that may be of a lead zirconate or lead titanate ceramiccrystal material, formed so as to be either capable of ultrasonicvibrational activity in its longitudinal direction when activated byhigh frequency of the motor, as will be described. The driving crystalshave an external diameter 92c and 93c respectively, which is smallerthan the internal diameter of the chamber 60c such that sufficientclearance therebetween is obtained. The internal diameters 94c and 95cof the respective crustals 88c and 89c have a diameter which permits aninsulating tubular sleeve 96c to be positioned in surroundingrelationship over the support member 82c, and extends the length fromthe front face 98c of crystal 88c to at least the rear face 101c of thecrystal 89c. The sleeve 96c is made preferably from an insulativematerial such as plastic so as to isolate the crystals from theelectrode 90c that extends between the rear face 99c of crystal 88c andthe front face of crystal 100c of crystal 89c. The rear member 91c fitsin telescopic relationship to the support member 82c and has an externaldiameter 108c which is less than the internal diameter of the chamber60c.

The transmission member 65c may contain an annular depression 166c, formotor mounting means, illustrated to be in the form of an o-ring 81c,positioned in each of said depressions. A peripheral o-ring seat 169c isprovided in the cavity 60c for o-ring 110c such that the mounting meansfor the motor 50c in the housing means 52c consists of spaced aparto-rings 81c and 110c such that the vibrational energy of the motor whenenergized, remains substantially isolated therein without the energybeing transmitted to the housing 52c. By providing o-ring seats in thehousing 52c, as well as on the motor 50c, axial movement of the motorrelative to the housing is substantially prevented when a force isapplied.

The motor 50c illustrated in FIG. 15 has frequency sensing means in theform of a third crystal 168c which abuts the rear member 91c on one sidethereof and an electrode 170c on its opposite side with an insulatingwasher 172c between the electrode 170c and locking nut 35c. A tubularsleeve 174c of insulating material extends on the support member 82c atleast the axial length of the crystal 168c, electrode 170c and washer172c.

The nut 85c forming the locking means is secured to the rear threadedportion 86c on shaft 82c and is tightened to the point where an axialcompressive force is sufficient to compress the crystal 88c electrode90c, crystal 89c, a rear section 91c, crystal 168c and electrode 170cwith a predetermined amount of torque.

To aid in assembly of the motor 50c positioning means 185c may beprovided as seen in FIGS. 15 and 16 to prevent angular rotation, but notlongitudinal direction, of the rear member 91c relative to the supportmember 82c when the nut 85c is tightened. The positioning means 185cincludes a transverse opening 186c in the support member 82c dimensionedto accept the lip 187c of a screw 188c which is threadably engaged inthe rear member 91c, with a minimum of clearance. In this manner, therear member 91c moves in a linear path to compress the crystals 88c and89c when the nut 85c is rotated. At the completion of the assembly ofthe motor 50c, the screw 188c may be removed or held permanently inplace by an epoxy (not shown).

The adapter 26c is designed to match the rear end of the housing 52c andincludes a cavity 121c having a front end 122c which abuts the rear end56c with a wall portion 123c having an external diameter 124c that maybe of the same outside diameter as the housing 52c. The female connector120c is contained within a counterbore 125c and may be seated therein bya press fit such that the electrical terminals or prongs of theconnector 115c are adapted to mate with the female receptacle 120chaving receiving prongs or contacts. The connector 115c extends intelescopic relation to the adapter 26c and fits within a seat 132c onthe front of adapter housing 26c. The present embodiment of theultrasonic motor system may be adapted to have a fluid passtherethrough.

In this embodiment of the invention, electrical coupling means 200c isutilized such that the motor 50c is merely placed within the cavity 60cand held in place by the o-rings, or other mounting means; and completeelectrical contact is accomplished such that no actual wiring of themotor takes place. In this manner, for high production quantitiesparticularly, the problem of a soldered lead breaking due to thevibratory stress generated is eliminated. In addition, by molding in theelectrical contacts within say a plastic housing, further savings areobtained in manufacturing costs. Essentially the wire leads areincorporated within the housing 52c as seen in FIGS. 15, 17 and 18.

The contact lead to the electrode 90c is a filament 104c that has afront hooked or bent section 202c contained in a pocket or recess 204cthat is adapted to engage and transmit pressural contact thereagainst tocouple the electrical energy thereto. The filament 104c may have arectangular, circular or other cross-section, and extends substantiallythe length of the housing 52c and terminates openly in a rear recess206c with a contoured portion 208c contained therein. The rear electrode170c has electrical energy coupled thereto by means of filament 171cembodied in the casing 52c and having a front contoured portion 208ccontained in a front recess 210c with a rear portion 211c in a rearrecess 212c.

Switching means 195c is contained in the accessory 25c and adapted to beengaged by the user when operation of the motor is desired. Theswitching means 195c includes a switch 196c having a push button orcontact 197c that extends beyond the housing for finger engagement andis coupled to a contact element 214c with its free end, contained withina cavity 215c contained within the housing 52c.

The switch 196c has the contact element 214c embedded within the housingwall and extending therethrough and terminating in a rear cavity 216cwhich has therein the bent portion 217c of the contact element 214c suchthat a certain degree of rigidity is provided as hereinafter discussed.The other electrical contact of the switch is provided in the form of asimilarly contained electrical element 218c that terminates in thecavity 215c in a contoured section 219c such that, upon depression ofthe push button 197c, contact is made between the element 214c and thecurved portion 219c, such that in a normal conventional manner thecircuit is closed and current from the converter is transmitted to theultrasonic motor 50c. The rear of the element 218c similarly has acurved section 220 which terminates in a pocket on cavity 221c. Theswitch may obviously take many forms and is positioned for ready accessbetween the user's finger when in those instances it is desirable tofirst obtain the output end of the ultrasonic motor and the member towhich the ultrasonic energy is to be transmitted. This permits an easierpositionment of the motor tip since, upon energizing, there is immediatemovement between the tip and the work piece; and, accordingly, there arethose instances where the switch is desired to be positioned asillustrated in FIGS. 14-18. The electrical coupling means 200c as hereindescribed may be encapsulated within the plastic housing in themanufacturing process thereof, such that in actual assembly the motor50c is pre-assembled and need merely be positioned within the housing ina keyed manner. In this manner upon the o-rings being positioned in theseats provided, the electrodes 90c and 170c are in relative axialposition for contact with electrical elements. This is an importantfeature of this embodiment of the invention in that it permits massproduction of ultrasonic motors in a housing where there is no wiring orsolder joints on the respective motor or housing, or therebetween.

Once the motor is contained within the housing 52c, then the connector115c is positioned within the cavity 60c as disclosed and in thisembodiment of the invention electrical contacts are provided to engagethe respective electrical contacts described above. Accordingly,electrical contact 223c meets with electrode 171c, contact 224c meetswith electrode 104c, contact 225c meets with the element 218c, andcontact 226c meets with 214c. In turn, the respective contacts arepre-wired or otherwise molded so that their respective pins of connector115c meet with the connector 120c in a conventional manner.

In order to assure proper orientation of connector 115c relative to thehousing 124c, positioning means 230c is provided in the form of a keywayor depression 231c on the connector 115c and a complimentary nib ortooth 232c is provided, as seen in FIG. 15, on the casing 124c, suchthat the user may easily orient the connector 115c relative to thecasing 124c.

The connecting pins on the connector 115c are wired via 120c. Five ofsuch connections are shown in that nut 85c similarly has an electrodeportion connecting it via element 222c partially seen in FIG. 15.Accordingly, the contact 104c, through contact 224c, is wired to contact128c and in turn to wire 141c. Contact 171c is wired through 223c tocontact 191c and in turn through wire 192c. Contact 222c is wired tocontact 126 and in turn to wire 140c. Contact 225c is in turn wired tocontact 233c and in turn wire 198c. Contact 226c is in turn wired tocontact 234c and in turn 199c. Accordingly, all the wires fit throughsleeve 145c and are in turn wired to their respected designatedpositions within the converter.

FIGS. 19-22 illustrate a kit 10d that includes instrument means 22d witha plurality of interchangeable elements 165b adapted to be removablysecured to the output section of the accessory 25d and having a converor15d which, as seen in FIG. 21, is of a size in that the male prongs 235dwill extend outwardly from one edge of the converter 15d and are adaptedto be plugged into a wall outlet 236d. In this manner the useressentially does not have to position his convertor on a table or otherworking area but may merely plug into the wall outlet 236d theultrasonic convertor and by means of the cable 24d operated by switchingmeans 195d, on the accessory 25d, may readily perform whatever functionhe desires. As seen in FIG. 20, we have a model plastic airplane 238dthat may be included as part of the kit 10d such that the user 11d, uponpurchase of the kit 10d, has contained therein one or more models, orother items, to be worked upon utilizing the ultrasonic instrument means22d packaged with the kit.

As seen in FIG. 20, the ultrasonic element 165d is interposed betweenthe mating joints of the airplane and by moving same at the joint a flowof plastic occurs which is sufficient to cause a fusion of the plasticparts. The kit 10d further includes in its carton or other packagingmeans 240d, with cover 241d, a number or removable elements in variousshapes and forms. Those illustrated are with a pointed tip element 178das in FIGS. 9 and 10, for use as in FIG. 20 for plastic assembly, aknife element 242d as seen in FIG. 21, and a round pointed element 244das seen in use in FIG. 22. Accordingly, the kit is adaptable for use ina great variety of hobby-craft applications and as such a supply ofdisposable parts 245d may be contained in a container 246d in the kit10d. The disposable parts 245d may be of plastic, metal or othermaterial.

Accordingly, all types of plastic, glass, metal, wood, leather, andother materials may be worked upon with the kit 10d. As seen in FIG. 20the instrument means 22d is used by the user 11d to assemble a plasticmodel and control the power by the finger tip switching means 195d.

FIG. 21 illustrates the removable element 165d in the form of a knifeelement 242d. Accordingly, a number of accessories 25d may be purchasedby the user, such that even if the elements are removable, the user mayhave the ones he uses most often already assembled to an accessory 25dwhich is quickly and easily removed from the adapter 26d. This type ofsystem gives the user maximum flexibility between interchangeability ofthe accessory and the removable elements to be used. Further, theconvertor 15d is plugged directly into the wall outlet 236d for theconvenience of the user.

FIG. 22 illustrates yet another application in which the instrumentmeans 22d, connected to the power cable 24d and in turn to the convertor15d, is plugged within the wall outlet 236d. In operation the fingerswitching means 195d is used to vibrate the removable element 244d whichis in contact with a wood member 248d such as for wood burning or otherapplications.

FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate another form of kit 10e that may be used bythe hobbyist to perform a series of applications, some of which arehereinafter illustrated in FIGS. 25-28. In contrast to the kitillustrated in FIG. 19, the present kit as seen in FIG. 23 includes acontainer 15e that could be battery powered or plugged in a wall outletand having an on/off switch 28e contained on the cabinet as well as apower control adjustment knob 20e such that the power to perform aspecial application may be properly adjusted by the user 11e as seen inFIG. 25

The kit includes a converter 15e contained within packaging means orcartion 240e having a cover 241e for shipment. The instrument means 22eis seen to include an adapter 26e having the power cord 24e adapted tobe plugged in the convertor 15e as seen in FIG. 24. The accessory 25e isof the type to be removed from the adapter 26e and designed to accept aplurality of interchangeable, removable elements illustrated in the formof a bent or shaped tip 252e, an assembly element 253e for use as seenin FIGS. 25-27, an element 251e which may have a rounded tip, theelement 250e which may be in the form of a thin spatula for mixing,welding or other applications.

To facilitate the use of the kit 10e by the user, a number of peripheralitems may be provided so that the user, upon purchase of the kit may beable to begin use thereof with what is provided in the kit. For example,the container 246e is provided having a number of clips 245e that may bein the form of plastic or other type fasteners such as illustrated withrespect to FIGS. 25-27. In addition, plastic sheet material or even woodmembers or elements 257e may be provided such as for wood burning orother uses. Container 259e is provided for various plastic or leatherstrips or filaments to be used for artistic craft work or other usesthat the hobbyist may find.

It will be noted that a finger switch is also provided on the accessory25e such that once the user places the power on by switch 28e theconvertor may be in the on position such that instantaneous power willbe available at the removable element 252e upon engagement of the fingerswitch by the user.

FIGS. 25-28 illustrate further usage of the ultrasonic apparatus. At thepresent time, erector sets normally utilize metallic nuts and bolts toassemble the respective components thereof. As seen with respect to FIG.25, metallic components 254e and 255e of the erector set are assembledby using a plastic rivet 256e having its head at one end thereof in anest 258e and the ultrasonic instrument 22e held by the user 11e with aremovable element 253e having a pocket for containment of the shaft ofthe rivet 256e. In this manner the energy is applied with a static forcein the direction of the arrows 259e, and the kinetic energy imparted tothe rivet by the ultrasonic mechanical vibrations effects the flow ofthe plastic and a head 260e is formed as seen in FIG. 26.

FIGS. 27 and 28 illustrate a novel fastener adapted to be jointed withultrasonic energy and including a first fastening element or portion261e having a head portion 262e in a nest 258e, and a tubular shaft 263ewith an axial bore 268e contained therein and a second fastening element265e having a head portion 266e and a shank shaft 267e adapted to becontained within the axial bore 268e of the shaft 263e. As seen, the twoelements 261e and 265e are to be assembled with one head 262e resting inthe nest 258e and the second head 266e coupled to the ultrasonic motortool with ultrasonic vibrations applied thereto by the instrument 22e inthe direction of the doubleheaded arrow 269e to assemble parts 254e and255e. The dimensional relationship between the inner bore 268e and theouter diameter of the shaft 267e is such that there is a minimal spacingof 0.0005 inches for the diameters of the shaft 267e in the range ofdiameter of 0.032 inch to 1 inch such that a flow of the plastic firstoccurs to form a molecular bond between the respective circular of othercross-sectional areas of the fastening elements 261e and 265e.

FIG. 28 shows the removal of a head 266e of a rivet, either as formed inFIGS. 25 and 26, or FIG. 27 with an ultrasonic tool 252e that permitsthe user to quickly disassemble his erector set by shearing off theheads of the plastic rivets and separate the parts 254e and 255e.

FIG. 29 illustrates one form of electronic converter circuit 15f that isdesigned to be used with the type of motor 50f having two crystals 88fand 89f with the electrode 90f therebetween, and generally illustratedin FIGS. 3-6. The motor 50f further includes a rear portion 91f andlocking means in the form of a nut 85f with a wire 112f extending fromthe motor to point of ground or reference potential and a wire 104fextending from the electrode 90f and wired to the converter 15f ashereinafter discussed.

More particularly now, the converter 15f includes a transistor 280arranged in a driving circuit to provide an output oscillatory signalcoupled to the motor 50f to drive or induce ultrasonic vibrations in thepiezoelectric crystals 88f and 89f. The transistor 280 which is shown asan N-P-N type, has its collector electrode 281 connected through an R.F.choke 282 to the junction of a fixed value resistor 283 and a variableresistor 284. The other end of the resistor 283 is connected to the baseelectrode 298 of the transistor 280 and one end of a secondary winding285 of a transformer 286. The other end of the winding 285 is grounded.A capacitor 287 is connected in parallel with the transformer secondarywinding 285 to provide a tank circuit resonant at the desired frequencyof oscillation. An output coupling of the developed oscillatory signalis via the transformer primary winding 288 connected between thetransistor collector electrode 281 and the motor driving electrode 90f.The collector electrode 281 is coupled to ground through an isolatingcapacitor 289. The emitter electrode 290 of the transistor 280 iscoupled to ground through a bias resistor 291. Resistor 291 is bypassedto ground by a capacitor 292.

D.C. operating power for the oscillator may be provided by a standardtype half wave rectifier power supply circuit, as shown for example inFIG. 29 as comprising a resistor 293 in series with a diode 294 andconnected across the secondary winding of a transformer 295. A filtercapacitor 297 is connected across the resistor 293. The transformerprimary is connected through a suitable on-off switch 296 to an A.C.voltage source D.C. voltage is supplied to the oscillator circuit via alead connection from the variable resistor 284 to a tap on the resistor293.

Operation of the driving circuit of FIG. 29 is as follows. The variableresistor 284 is adjusted to provide a suitable operating potential forthe transistor collector electrode 281. When switch 296 is closed toapply power to the driving circuit, piezoelectric crystals 88f and 89fstart oscillating at the desired frequency and a plurality of harmonicand subharmonic frequencies of said desired frequency. Theseoscillations are applied through transformer primary winding 286 to theresonant tank formed by capacitor 287 and transformer secondary winding285. This resonant tank is designed so as to pass only the desiredfrequency and to switch transistor 280 "on" and "off" at said desiredfrequency. In this manner, a driving signal is applied to crystals 88fand 89f to sustain the oscillations thereof and the ultrasonicvibrations of motor 50f at the desired frequency.

FIG. 30 is similar to FIG. 29 except that in the electronic circuit 15gthe A.C. to D.C. power supply circuit has been replaced by a battery 298or straight D.C. power supply.

Turning now to FIG. 31, there is illustrated an electronic circuit 15hadapted for use with the ultrasonic motor 50h which may be of the typeillustrated in FIGS. 9-18, inclusive, and which includes a pair ofdriving crystals 88h and 89h, with the electrode 90h therebetween, witha rear member 91h coupled to an electrode 170h and a feedback crystal168h with a rear locking nut 85h. Electrode 90h is connected by wire104h to the circuit and electrode 170h by wire 171h. The unit isgrounded by wire 112h.

The oscillator circuit for driving the motor 50h includes a transistor300, having its base electrode 301 connected to the junction of acapacitor 302 and resistors 303 and 304. Resistor 304 is returned viathe primary winding 305 of a transformer 306 to the collector electrode307 of the transistor 300. The emitter electrode 308 of the transistor300 is connected to ground through a resistor 309. The other end ofresistor 303 is also connected to ground. The capacitor 302 is seriesconnected to a variable inductor 310 which is tuned with the capacitor302 to be series resonant at the desired frequency of vibration for themotor driving crystal 90h. A signal attenuating resistor means 311series connects the inductor 310 to a feedback crystal 170h in the motor50h. Operating potential for the circuit is supplied from an A.C. toD.C. power supply 312, similar to that shown in FIG. 29. Connection ofthe power supply D.C. output voltage to the oscillator circuit is vialead 313 to the transformer primary winding 305 and ground lead 314. Theoscillator output drive signal is coupled to the motor 50h and electrode90h via the transformer secondary winding 315.

Operation of the circuit is as follows:

When the circuit 15h is energized, as by closing of the power supplyon-off switch, the sudden surge of current therefrom will drive thecrystals 88h and 89h into a vibratory mode of operation. The vibrationsof crystal 88h and 89h will in turn induce vibrations in the feedbackcrystal 168h and the vibrations or oscillatory output of crystal 168h isfed back to the base input of the transistor 300 via the inductor 310and capacitor 302 network. Since the induced vibrations in the crystalmay be harmonic and/or subharmonic of the crystal fundamental frequency,the inductor-capacitor feedback network is turned to be series resonantat the desired frequency of vibration for the motor 50h. The transistor300 operates as an amplifier so that at this series resonant frequency,the feedback signal to the base input of the transistor 300 will be at alevel to provide a sufficient signal output from the transistor 300 forcoupling via the transformer 306 to the crystals 88h and 89h to sustainthe crystal vibrations at the desired or tuned frequency of the seriesresonant circuit.

FIG. 32 is similar to FIG. 31 except that in the circuit 15j the A.C. toD.C. power supply circuit has been replaced by a battery 316. Operationof the circuit is the same as was heretofore described with respect toFIG. 31.

CONCLUSION

Applicants have herein disclosed new and novel apparatus and kits to beutilized for the home consumer, professional and industrial markets. Thekits of the present invention are multi-functional and provide a majorbreakthrough into the home consumer field on an economical basis.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been describedin detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to those preciseembodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention,except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. An ultrasonic system includingA. a cabinet; B. drivingcircuit means for providing an electrical driving signal of a desiredultrasonic frequency including tuned circuit means tuned to said desiredfrequency for controlling the frequency of said driving signal; C.adapter means including a first connector coupled to said drivingcircuit means for transmission of said driving signal; D. a plurality ofmeans each adapted to be interchangeable with each other and releasablyconnected to said adapter means and forming part thereof to permit avariety of applications to be performed, said adapter means andinterchangeable means when assembled being adapted to be hand held by auser and including:
 1. a housing means capable of being hand held,
 2. anultrasonic motor capable of vibration at more than one frequencyincluding said desired frequency mounted within at least a portion ofsaid housing means and having a portion extending outside of saidhousing means portion for transmission of high frequency mechanicalvibrations, said ultrasonic motor including: a. a transmission memberhaving a rear section and a front section with an output end fortransmitting the generated mechanical vibrations, b. transducer meansconnected to said rear section, said interchangeable means being in theform of an accessory .[.forming part of said instrument means whenassembled therewith and.]. including said motor, said housing meansportion, and a second connector mounted on said housing means portionadapted to be releasably connected to said adapter means first connectorfor electrically coupling said driving circuit means and said transducermeans when in its assembled position through said connectors, E. meansfor applying to said tuned circuit means a detected signalrepresentative of the frequencies of vibration of said motor, said tunedcircuit means responding to the desired frequency portion of saiddetected signal to cause said driving signal means to produce a drivingsignal of said desired frequency; and F. a support means associated withsaid cabinet for holding said assembled adapter means andinterchangeable means in fixed position relative to said cabinet whennot in use.
 2. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 1, including aplurality of interchangeable elements adapted to be removably secured tosaid transmission member front section of at least one of saidinterchangeable means for transmission of the ultrasonic mechanicalvibrations.
 3. An ultrasonic system defined in claim 1, wherein at leastone of said interchangeable means includes a razor connected to saidmotor for driving said razor at an ultrasonic rate.
 4. An ultrasonicsystem as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of saidinterchangeable means includes a toothbrush connected to said motor fordriving said toothbrush at an ultrasonic rate.
 5. An ultrasonic systemas defined by claim 1, wherein at least one of said interchangeablemeans includes an applicator having a passageway extending therethroughfor a stream of liquid and adapted for use in the oral cavity fortreating the gingival and tooth structures for hygienic control thereof.6. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 1, and further includingliquid reservoir means in said cabinet communicating with said adaptermeans to provide a supply of liquid to the accessory connected to saidadapter means.
 7. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 1, whereinA.said transmission means is elongated, said front section having asmaller cross-sectional area then said rear section to act as anaccoustical impedance transformer to amplify the mechanical vibrationstransmitted to said rear section and transmitted by said front section,B. said ultrasonic motor including support means extendinglongitudinally from said rear section, C. said transducer means beingpiezoelectric, positioned on said support means and electricallyconnected to said first connector, D. said ultrasonic motor furtherincluding a rear member mounted in telescopic relation to saidtransducer means, and E. locking means to maintain said transmissionmeans, transducer means, and rear member under compression.
 8. Anultrasonic system as defined in claim 7, wherein said locking meansincludes a nut threadably engaged on said support means to compress saidtransmission means, transducer means and rear member to maintain saidcompression.
 9. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 8, and furtherincluding mounting means for said motor to maintain said motor in fixedposition relative to said housing means.
 10. An ultrasonic system asdefined in claim 7:a. wherein said transducer means includes a pair ofpiezoelectric discs mounted on said support means, b. a disc-shapedelectrode mounted between said crystal discs, and c. means forinsulating said piezoelectric discs and said electrode from said supportmeans.
 11. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 1, wherein saiddriving circuit means includes a power supply for producing a powersignal; switch means for controlling the transmission of said powersignal as a driving signal to said transducer means; and transformermeans having a primary and a secondary winding; said tuned circuit meansincluding capacitor means connected in parallel with said secondarywinding; said means for applying said detected signal including saidprimary winding and means for electrically coupling said power supplythrough said primary winding to said transducer means.
 12. An ultrasonicsystem as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for applying saiddetected signal includes sening means mechanically coupled to said motorfor detecting the frequencies of vibration thereof and producing saiddetected signal, and electrical conductor means for transmitting saiddetected signal through said first and second connectors to said drivingcircuit means, said driving circuit means including amplifier meanshaving an input and an outut, said tuned circuit means being connectedintermediate said conductor means and said amplifier means input andbeing adapted to filter said detected signal and pass to said amplifiermeans input the component of said detected signal of said desiredfrequency, said driving circuit means further including meansoperatively coupling said amplifier means output and said firstconnector for transmission of said driving signal.
 13. An ultrasonicsystem as defined in claim 1, and further including power switchingmeans contained on said housing means and adapted to be engaged by auser during operation of the system.
 14. An ultrasonic system as definedin claim 13, wherein said swithcing means is contained on theinterchangeable means.
 15. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 13,wherein said switching means is contained on the adapter means.
 16. Anultrasonic system as defined in claim 1, and further includingelectrical coupling means extending between said motor and said secondconnector, said coupling means being at least in part embedded withinsaid housing means wall and exposed at at least one end thereof toengage said motor to make electrical contact therewith.
 17. Anultrasonic kit, including:A. ultrasonic instrument means adapted to behand held by the user thereof and having an ultrasonic motor capable ofvibrating at more than one frequency; B. driving circuit means forproviding an ultrasonic driving signal of a desired frequency forenergizing said ultrasonic instruments means, and adapted to beconnected to said motor, said driving circuit means including tunedcircuit means tuned to said desired frequency for controlling thefrequency of said driving signal; C. means for applying to said tunedcircuit means a detected signal representative of the frequencies ofvibration of said motor, said tuned circuit means responding to thedesired frequency portion of said detected signal to cause said drivingcircuit means to produce a driving signal of said desired frequency; D.interchangeable means each adapted to be removably secured to the frontend of said ultrasonic instrument means to permit a variety ofapplications of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations to selected objects forvarious results, and E. a container for retaining said ultrasonicinstrument means, driving circuit means, and interchangeable means. 18.An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, including electrical plugmeans for connection to an electrical outlet, said driving circuit meansbeing mounted in said plug means.
 19. An ultrasonic kit as defined inclaim 17, including a battery for powering said .[.converter.]..Iadd.driving circuit means, .Iaddend.said battery being mounted in saidcontainer.
 20. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, and furtherincluding plastic parts to be assembled by said ultrasonic instrumentmeans.
 21. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 20, wherein saidplastic parts form a plastic hobby model.
 22. An ultrasonic kit asdefined in claim 20, wherein said plastic parts are in the form offasteners.
 23. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, wherein saidultrasonic instrument means includes manual control switch means forselectively actuating said motor.
 24. An ultrasonic kit as defined inclaim 17, wherein said interchangeable means includes a cutting tool.25. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, wherein saidinterchangeable means includes a heating tool.
 26. An ultrasonic kit asdefined in claim 17, wherein said driving circuit means includes a powersupply for producing a power signal; switch means for controlling thetransmision of said power signal as a driving signal to said motor; andtransformer means having a primary and a secondary winding; said tunedcircuit means including capacitor means connected in parallel with saidsecondary winding; said means for applying said detected signalincluding said primary winding and means for electrically coupling saidpower supply through said primary winding to said motor.
 27. Anultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, wherein said means for applyingsaid detected signal includes sensing means mechanically coupled to saidmotor and electrically coupled to said driving circuit means fordetecting the frequencies of vibration thereof and producing saiddetected signal, said driving circuit means including amplifier meanshaving an input and an output, said tuned circuit means being connectedintermediate said sensing means and said amplifier means input and beingadapted to filter said detected signal and pass to said amplifier meansinput the component of said detected signal of said desired frequency,said driving circuit means further including means operatively couplingsaid amplifier means output and said motor for transmission of saiddriving signal.
 28. A system for use in the home for hygienic purposes,comprising:A. a housing adapted to be mounted on a wall in the homehaving an access opening; B. a door connected to said housing andadapted to close the access opening and being movable to open the accessopening; C. driving circuit means in said housing for convertingconventional home electrical current to an electrical driving signaloscillating at a desired ultrasonic frequency, including tuned circuitmeans tuned to said desired frequency for controlling the frequency ofsaid driving signal; and D. ultrasonic instrument means in said housingadapted to be hand held by the user, and having an electrical cableconnected to said converter, said ultrasonic instrument means beingremovable through the access opening when said door is opened to permituse of said ultrasonic means with the inner end of the cord beingretained within said housing, said instrument means being adapted to beused for hygienic purposes, and having a motor capable of vibrating atmore than one frequency including said desired frequency.
 29. The systemas defined in claim 28, and further including a reel on which said cableis wound to provide retractable means therefore.
 30. The system asdefined in claim 28, wherein said instrument means includes an adapterhaving said cable connected thereto and an accessory removably connectedto said adapter and having one end thereof for said hygienic purpose,said accessory including:A. an ultrasonic motor for producing mechanicalvibrations; B. an output section coupled to said motor for transmittingthe generated mechanical vibrations; C. housing means enclosing saidmotor; .[.and.]. D. electrical connecting means mounted on said housingmeans and connected to said motor, said connecting means being adaptedto be releasably connected to said adapter for the transmission ofelectrical energy to said motor, when in its assembled position .[...]..Iadd.; and .Iaddend. E. means for applying to said tuned circuit meansa detected signal representative of the frequencies of vibration of saidmotor, said tuned circuit means responding to the desired frequencyportion of said detected signal to cause said driving circuit means toproduce a driving signal of said desired frequency.
 31. A system asdefined in claim 30, wherein said accessory is in the form of a razorand includes an ultrasonic motor electrically connected through saidadapted to said driving circuit means for driving said razor at theultrasonic rate.
 32. A system as defined in claim 30, wherein saidaccessory is in the form of a toothbrush and includes an ultrasonicmotor electrically connected through said adapter to said drivingcircuit means, for driving said toothbrush at an ultrasonic rate. 33.The system as defined in claim 30, and further including reservoir meanscontained in said housing for containing a liquid, said reservoir meansbeing coupled to said cable, said cable and adapter including apassageway to supply liquid to said accessory, and pumping means incommunicating relationship to said reservoir means for supplying saidliquid to said instrument means, said accessory being in the form of anapplicator having a passageway extending therethrough for a stream ofliquid and adapted for use in the oral cavity for treating the gingivaland tooth structures for hygienic control thereof, said accessorycontaining an ultrasonic motor electrically connected through saidadapter to said driving circuit means to inpart vibratory energy to saidapplicator.
 34. The system as defined in claim 28, and further includingpower switching means on said instrument means for manual operation bythe user during use.